#NewMusicFriday: January 23rd 2026

#NewMusicFriday- January 23rd 2026

This week’s round of releases sees things ramping up with a handful of noteworthy new albums. 

Empty Hands’ sees Poppy return for her seventh full-length outing. Its 13 tracks promise to be diverse yet cohesive.

Thrash metal icons Megadeth begin their long goodbye with the release of their final album, a self-titled record.

Japanese metalcore force Crystal Lake deliver their first album since 2019 with ‘The Weight of Sound’. Now led by new vocalist John Robert Centorrino, the quintet ropes in members of Killswitch Engage, Signs of the Swarm, Seven Hours After Violet, and more to produce a ferocious, yet melodic, record.

Backengrillen‘s eponymous debut sees members of Refused, Dennis Lyxzén, Magnus Flagge and David Sandströn, team up with saxophonist Mats Gustafsson, to deliver a compelling blend of free jazz and brooding hardcore.

Rising genre-blending rockers Artio show their intent with their second album, ‘Soul Rot’. Led by Rae Brazill’s soaring vocals, the Leeds-based outfit neatly utilises electronica, pop-punk, and heavy riffs to paint a varied sound. At its core, Brazill’s cathartic words take on personal topics such as transphobia, the pressures of the music industry, and mental well-being. When paired with a bold, confident sound, ‘Soul Rot’ proves to be a raw and confident offering from Artio.

The same can’t quite be said for The Hara. The Manchester trio return today with ‘The Fallout’. Having done the rounds playing major festivals, alongside and supporting the likes of Sum 41, Nothing More, Escape the Fate and Ice Nine Kills, The Hara have carved out a sound that pulls from alternative rock, metalcore, and emo. However, it results in the sound of a band lacking an identity. Tracks such as ‘Monsters & Demons’ and ‘Twist the Arrows’ are slick and bombastic, treading the fine line of being heavy and accessible. Although there are a handful of hooks, it’s a forgettable outing.

There are also new releases from TexturesGoldfinger, Sky Valley MistressThe FormatPelican, and more.



What is out on #NewMusicFriday?

Rock / Alternative Rock / Hard Rock | Alternative / Indie | Emo / Pop-Punk / Pop-Rock / Punk / Post-Punk |
Post-Hardcore | Metalcore | Progressive | Metal | Death Metal / Deathcore | EPs

Albums

Rock / Alternative Rock / Hard Rock

The Hara – The Fallout
Sky Valley Mistress – Luna Mausoleum
Fading Into Silence – Woman On My Mind

Alternative / Indie / Post-Rock

Poppy – Empty Hands
Artio – Soul Rot
Backengrillen – Backengrillen (Bandcamp only)
The Format – Boycott Heaven
Hot Face – Automated Response

Emo / Pop-Punk / Pop-Rock / Punk / Post-Punk

Goldfinger – Nine Lives
Red Sun – At Their Very Best

Post-Hardcore

Colossal Rains – Feral Sorrow
Dramatist – wasting words
Place Position – Went Silent

Metalcore

Crystal Lake – The Weight of Sound
Dagger Threat – Bleed///Reboot
Elwood Stray – Descending

Progressive

Textures – Genotype
HamaSaari – Pictures

Metal

Megadeth – Megadeth
New Miserable Experience – Gild The Lily
Fyres – Like Waves
Deathraiser – Forged In Hatred

Death Metal / Deathcore

New Mexican Doom Cult – Ziggurat

EPs

Pelican – Ascending
Sykofant – Leaves
Meteora – Dissonance

If you think I’ve missed something or have a new album/EP/song to tell us about, tell us about it here.

Follow the #NewMusicFriday playlist on Apple Music

If you’re looking for the latest tracks focusing on rock, punk, hardcore, metal, emo, and everything in between, then check out our ‘Newish Music’ playlist on Spotify or Apple Music.

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